The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) this year awarded its most prestigious honour, the Gold Medal, to architect John Wardle.
From his Melbourne-based studio founded in 1986, the Jury described Wardle as having “created a practice of national stature and international repute; a practice where design excellence takes the prime position in every single project and at every scale.”
His practice has won numerous state Institute awards for architectural excellence in Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland as well as at the national and international level. This peer recognition “reinforces the view of John Wardle as an architect whose contribution to the development of Australian architecture has been distinguished and substantial,” says Jury chair and AIA National president professor Helen Lochhead.
Having worked both nationally and internationally, including on the 16th International Biennale Architettura in Venice, Wardle’s craft is recognisable right around the country on projects of varying scale, from single family homes such as the Kitamura house in Kew (1995) to large-scale institutional and commercial buildings such as the Queensland Brain Institute (2004-2007) in Brisbane, or the Jane Foss Russell Building in Sydney (2009).
“As a Gold Medal recipient John has been recognised as one of the leading architects in our national architectural story,” Professor Lochhead says.
‘His outstanding contribution to architecture is wide-ranging and enduring, with his work having a lasting influence in shaping our profession,” she says.
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